Shaki: Palace Art, Shebeke and Halwa

The historic city of Sheki lies at the foot of the Greater Caucasus and is divided into two parts by the Gurjana River. The historic centre of Shaki is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the historic centre of Sheki, including the Palace of the Khans, has been protected since 1967. The city thus brings together a long architectural history and a striking geographical setting.

Palace, Museum and Shebeke

The Palace of the Khans in Shaki was built in the late 18th century as an administrative building for the Khans of Shaki. It stands at one of the highest points in the city and is a monument from the era of the khanate. Its windows, made using the Shebeke technique, are especially distinctive: the glass windows are crafted without glue or nails. These Shebeke windows are a characteristic handcrafted detail of the palace’s design.

The Yuxarı Karvansaray also offers a glimpse into the city’s history. Dating from the 18th century, it contains up to 300 rooms and cellars. This scale gives you an idea of the complex without reducing it to a single use. Together with the palace, it offers another historical landmark for travellers who want to discover Shaki primarily through its buildings.

The Sheki Museum of Applied Arts offers a different perspective on design and craftsmanship. Located in the Yukhari Bash State Historical and Architectural Reserve, it has four halls with around 600 exhibits of applied or decorative art. The approximate number of exhibits and their arrangement across four halls give a museum visit a tangible framework; the exhibits put applied and decorative art centre stage.

In Shaki Fortress, a Shebeke workshop displays mosaics made from tiny pieces of glass held together in wooden lattices. This lets you encounter the technique not only in the palace windows but also as a craft in its own right. The Khan Mosque dates from the 18th century; the museum in its courtyard displays artefacts and cultural objects from the period of the Shaki Khanate.

Walks, Silk and Local Cuisine

If you would like to include time outdoors as well as cultural visits, the trail to Gurjana Waterfall starts at the Palace of the Khans in Shaki. The starting point is clearly marked. A visit to the Shaki Silk Factory also offers the opportunity to observe silk production—another way to explore a local craft.

Halwa, the city’s best-known sweet, is part of Shaki’s culinary heritage. It is a local variation of pakhlava, made with layers of rice-dough lattice filled with ground nuts, syrup, spices and saffron. Traditional sweet shops offer halwa masterclasses with local confectioners, who share family recipes passed down through generations. If you would like to focus more on the ingredients and how it is made, you could consider taking one of these classes.

Another option is a masterclass in Dopu-Dolmasi, a distinctive type of dolma cooked in a clay pot. Visitors can take part in Shaki; the VIP Karvan Restaurant in the city centre offers this class. Halwa and Dopu-Dolmasi introduce different culinary themes for your trip: sweet pastries and a clay-pot dish.

When choosing a holiday rental in Shaki, these interests may help you decide: the palace and museums, Shebeke craftsmanship, silk production, a walk to the waterfall or local cooking classes. They offer different ways to shape your stay without requiring you to focus on just one side of the city.

For further orientation within the area, see the sub-regions Bideyiz and Sheki.

For the broader travel overview: Azerbaijan.

More destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Qabala, Masally, Siazan, Baku, Khachmaz, Ismailli.